What’s Current: Muslim families protest Pride messaging in Ottawa schools

On May 31, the Ottawa school board emailed all staff members and outlined a new policy,  stating that in all classrooms, from kindergarten to Grade 12, the use of “they/them” pronouns should be used to refer to students until they specify different “preferred pronouns.” The email also specified:

“Staff have a professional and legal responsibility to cultivate an inclusive and accepting environment for 2SLGBTQ+ students and families… This includes embedding resources that accurately reflect and honour 2SLGBTQ+ identities into curriculum subjects and the overall learning environment, from Kindergarten to Grade 12.”

“Opting out” is not an option for students, the school board added.

In response, hundreds of concerned parents, children, and allies gathered in Ottawa to take part in the Education over Indoctrination protest on Friday. The protesters included numerous Muslim families chanting “Leave the kids alone!” One video shows children stomping on Pride flags.

Meghan Murphy

Founder & Editor

Meghan Murphy is a freelance writer and journalist from Vancouver, BC. She has been podcasting and writing about feminism since 2010 and has published work in numerous national and international publications, including The Spectator, UnHerd, Quillette, the CBC, New Statesman, Vice, Al Jazeera, The Globe and Mail, and more. Meghan completed a Masters degree in the department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at Simon Fraser University in 2012 and is now exiled in Mexico with her very photogenic dog.